Dimapur, Jan. 12: Governor PB Acharya, has appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities for the smooth conduct of ensuing municipal/ town council elections scheduled on February 1.
“Nagaland will now join the rest of the country in implementing reservation for women in local bodies by conducting municipal/ town council elections with 33% reservation for women,” Raj Bhavan release said quoting the Governor.
With the social divide in gender despite equality of the sexes as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, the Governor said vigorous affirmative action was needed to improve the condition of women.
“Giving 33% reservation to women will empower not only women but change the social structure of India in many ways. Despite long years of democratic politics, women remain largely outside the national public space. Their presence here is largely token and ‘happens’ despite the natural barriers that facilitate men while debarring women. This is because consciously and subconsciously women’s roles continue to be assigned to the private sphere, as men are given public role,” Acharya said.
Referring to studies which showed that women in far flung rural areas advocated collective and grassroots solutions to local problems, the Governor said they (women) have been sensitive to the excluded, having been excluded themselves for so long. He, therefore, said the choices they have made helped the community as a whole rather than just the dominant male elite.
Mention may be made here that under the special constitutional provisions, Nagaland Assembly in 2012 exempted the State from application of Article 242 (T), Part IX-A of the Constitution dealing with reservation of seats in municipalities. While the High Court upheld the State government’s position, Naga Mother’s Association (NMA) went ahead with appeal to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the State Assembly revoked the resolution passed by it in 2012 to exempt the State from implementing 33% women reservation in municipalities. The resolution was revoked after NMA moved the Supreme Court against it.
Stating that elections to the municipal/ town councils are only a process to elect their respective town and ward representatives in a democratic way, the Governor felt it a high time to elect municipal/ town councils so that sanitation, pure drinking water, health facilities etc,. which are the basic need for civilised life are taken care properly. Asserting that women can play a positive role, the Governor appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the law.
Affirming that dialogue is the only way to solve all issues, the Governor further appealed to all NGOs to follow the law and to allow the municipal/ town council elections to go ahead as announced by the government in order to protect and preserve the democratic ideals of Nagaland.
NPCC urges to postpone ULB elections
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has resolved to urge the State government to postpone the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections till consensus is arrived with the tribal hohos and village councils.
The resolution to this effect was taken at the NPCC emergency general session on January 12 in the at conference hall of the Congress Bhavan, Kohima.
The meeting was convened to assess the present situation which has developed in recent days pertaining to the ULB elections.
NPCC has resolved to endorse the January 9 executive committee resolutions on demonetisation and condemn the senseless act of demonetisation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has crippled economic activity across the nation.
In consonant with its resolution adopted on January 4, Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) comprising 19 Naga tribes supported by various Naga civil societies, has directed all the candidates to withdraw their nomination papers on or before January 15.
In a press release, NCD general secretary Thsapongkyu Sangtam urged all candidates for the forthcoming urban local bodies from East Dimapur (Purana bazaar) and Chumukedima irrespective of all political parties including the Independent to withdraw their nomination papers on or before January 15.
It further warned that any candidate failing to comply with the order will be taken to task as per the Naga customary law and practice.
Responding to the call of their respective tribal hohos, a total of 37 candidates have withdrawn their candidature for the ensuing Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections.
According to DIPR news bulletin, 2 candidates from, 1 from Chozuba, 1 from Tobu, 27 from Pfutsero, 4 from Phek, and 1 from Dimapur have withdrawn their nominations.
